Quinton Ganther produces as first-time starter for the Washington Redskins

Ganther produces as first-time starter

The Washington Redskins turned to their fourth starting running back of the season Sunday, and Quinton Ganther proved to be more than sufficient -- at least against the league's 30th-ranked rush defense.

Ganther finished Sunday's game with 50 rushing yards on 14 carries and 43 more receiving on three catches. His pair of 1-yard touchdown runs in the fourth quarter gave the Redskins' breathing room and provided him with a couple of nice souvenirs. The scores marked the first two touchdowns of his career and the game marked a homecoming of sorts for him. Born in Oakland and raised in nearby Richmond, Calif., a Bay area suburb, Ganther's first career start came in front of family and friends.

"My family are Raiders fans. They're all Raiders fans, but they're Quinton fans first," Ganther said. "Coming from this area, coming from Richmond, you guys know how it is. It's a blessing just to be able to make it out of that situation."

His family and friends saw one nifty run in the opening quarter, when Ganther took a screen pass from quarterback Jason Campbell, slipped a couple of tackles and turned it into a 42-yard gain. Four plays later, the Redskins scored their first touchdown of the day. With the team's top two running backs, Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts, finishing their seasons on the injured reserve list, Ganther knows these next few weeks will serve as important audition. He had only 28 career carries before Sunday, which means the final weeks of the season will allow front offices across the league to see what he can do.

"Opportunities in this league are so hard to come by," Ganther said. "And when they do come, you have to be ready."

At the half, though the Redskins led 17-10, Campbell was the team's leading rusher with 21 yards. Ganther had 16 yards on five carries at the time. But he had more touches in the second half and made the best of them. The entire backfield was new on Sunday, with Todd Yoder starting at fullback in place of an injured Mike Sellers. It was Yoder's first start since September 2008.

Not much Cartwright

While Rock Cartwright was the team's starting running back for a two-week spell, the Redskins turned to wide receiver Devin Thomas to return kickoffs. This week, Cartwright lost the running back job, and he didn't get his kick-returning gig back, either.

Thomas returned three kicks for a total of 71 yards. Cartwright was in the Redskins' backfield for a single series in the first half, inserted into the game to give Ganther a chance to catch his breath after a 42-yard reception. On the day, Cartwright had only one carry for no gain. When the Redskins wanted to mix in another running back late in the game, they turned to Marcus Mason instead of Cartwright. Mason had 32 yards on six carries. Cartwright has been primarily a kick-return specialist for the Redskins, but if the team wants to permanently turn to someone else for that duty, Cartwright's days in Washington could be numbered.

"I can't control it. I'm not going to worry about it," Cartwright said last week. "I'm still going out and working hard like I do day in and day out. It is what it is. I'm still excited to have a job."

New favorite target

A season ago, the Redskins got just two touchdowns out of their tight ends, and this season, Campbell lost his favorite receiving target, Chris Cooley, in October. But Campbell has a new favorite target, particularly in the red zone.

With two more touchdowns on Sunday, tight end Fred Davis has scored in each of the past three games. Though he has a team-high five touchdowns on the season -- two more than any other Redskin -- it's not like he's saving his touchdown balls.

"I expect myself to do that, if I have the opportunity," said Davis, who finished Sunday's game with 50 yards on three catches. Until Cooley went down, Davis's role in the offense was limited. He had never had more than three catches in a game in his short time as a pro. Suddenly, he's a capable target for Campbell, particularly on short passing routes.